Have your say on the proposed relocation of Wilby CE Primary School to the Glenvale Park development
Schools and education05 September 2023
North Northamptonshire Council is asking for views on the proposed relocation of Wilby CE VA Primary School to the Glenvale Park development.
Glenvale Park will provide an additional 3,000 new homes and in preparation for new families moving into the area, the two-form entry primary school, which has been built by the developer Glenvale Park LLP, is due for completion this Autumn.
As the estate grows and the need for school places arises, primary aged children from the Glenvale Park development will be able to apply for a school place as part of the normal admissions process for places for September 2024.
However, with an appropriate number of primary school places currently available in Wellingborough, it is not envisaged that demand to open a new school, and receive Department for Education funding, would be high enough until the start of the school year in September 2025.
To address this issue, the relocation of an existing local primary school opportunity to the Glenvale Park site was publicised to local primary schools, who were invited to express their interest in relocating their school to Glenvale Park site.
This relocation opportunity would avoid the school being mothballed or repurposed to meet an existing need with consideration to the rules of how Section 106 developer contributions can be used.
Following two expressions of interest and a robust interview process, the panel decision was made in July to relocate Wilby CE VA Primary School to the Glenvale Park site.
Wilby CE Primary School educates children aged four to 11 years and is located 2.4 miles from the Glenvale Park site.
We need to make sure that we arrive at the best decision and as such it’s important that we gather as many views as possible.Cllr Scott Edwards, the Council’s Executive Member for Children, Families, Education and Skills
Both of the expressions of interest we received were of a high standard and after much consideration the panel recommended that Wilby CE VA Primary School move to the next stage.
We need the views of people to shape what happens next and would encourage as many people as possible to take part in the consultation.Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council
Have your say
- People can have their say by completing the online questionnaire
- They can also write to: North Northamptonshire Council, Consultation: Wilby CE VA Primary School relocation to Glenvale Park, Bowling Green Road, Kettering NN15 7QX
The consultation will run until midnight on Thursday, October 5, 2023.